Feeler mechanism for looms



Aug. 3 1926.

1,594,404 L. H. BROWN ET AL I FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed March 261925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 3 ,,1926. 1,594,404

L. H. BROWN ET AL FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed March 26, 925 2sheets-sheet 2 UNITED \$TA TES PATENT OFFICE.

LARKIN H. BROWN AND GEORGE E. REPASS, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNORSTO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOIPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed March 26,1925. Serial No. 18,548.

This invention relates to feeler mechafor causing the automaticreplenishing mechanism to function when the filling on the bobbin in theshuttle has become neary exhausted.

In the form shown in the accompanying drawings, the feeler is a ri hthand side swipe or slipping feeler. It is to be understood that themechanism may be reversed for left hand side swipe or slipping.

The object of the invention is to produce such a mechanism in simpleform, comprising a small number of parts and adaptedto accurate and longcontinued performance without needing adjustment or repairing, wherebythe feeler mechanism and the re-' plenishing mechanism may be adjustedfor discharge of the bobbin from the shuttle with the smallest feasiblequantity of yarn remaining on the bobbin as wastage, and whereby loss oftime by stopping the loom is reduced. 1

A further object is .to produce a feeler mechanism in a form to avoidaccidents to the fingersand hands of operatives.

Reducing the quantity of yarn left on the bobbin when the transfer ismade is a financially important matter. Under present weaving practice,this wastage is relatively so large as to make, in the aggregate, alarge loss item in the operation of a mill. In some lines of work thiswastage is as much as two per cent of the yarn. That means two tons ofwastage out of one hundred tons of yarn. As wastage, this material issold at a large loss per pound. Two tons of yarn are an important item.

By makingthe feeler action sensitive and accurate and durable, it issafe to so wind the bobbins as to provide for sliding of the i'eelcrwhen the yarn on the bobbin is only sullicient to constitute a safereserve length of yarn until the bobbin has been discharged.

in the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a feeler mechanism containing thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the. supporting body. the cover of said body havingbeen removed to show the feeler and associated. members, those partsbeing at rest with the feeler in its outer and left hand or feelingposition, perpendicular to the bobbin axis;

Fig. 3 is a view of the same mechanism with the feeler pushed endwisewithout sidewise movement;

Fig. 4 shows the same mechanism with the feeler moved toward the rightby contact with the nearly empty bobbin;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the oscillating feeler carriage, the cover of thecarriage having been turned to fully expose the feeler;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line, 6-6, of Fig. 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line, 7-7, of Fi 2, the body cover being inposition;

Fig. 8 is an upright sectionv on the line, 88, of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrow, the-body cover being in position;

Fig. 9 is an upright section on the line, 9-9, of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows; I a

Fig. 10 is an upright section on the line, 10-10, of Fig.1, looking inthe direction of the arrows, the slide bolt being in the inactive orretracted position;

Fig. 11 is an upright section on the line, 11-11, of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows, the cam follower hook being in engagementwith the slide bolt;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line, 12-42, of Fig. 11.

Referring to said drawings, A is the body of the feeler mechanism. Saidbody is horizontal and oval as viewed in plan. A is the cover for saidbody. A is an upright bracket supporting said body. Said bracket has aflat horizontal head, A, on which rests the bottom of the body, A. Gapscrews, Ai, extend upward through said head into the body, A, to rigidlysecure the body to the head. The bracket, A, is suitably secured to astationary part, A, of the loom b means of a bolt, A. fin uprightcircumterential main wall, it], rises from the bottom or floor of thebody, it, and makes said body dish-form. But said wait is cut low at a.part at the body to make room fer the feeler carriage. Enough of thiswali left to make a dam or retaining member, A which prevents theoutward how of lubricant lying on the bettom of said body.

Near the-middle of the body, A, an uptill) right stationary pivot postor first fulcrum, A, rises from the bottom of the body. Said postextends into the bearing, C of the feeler carriage, C. That bearing isin a leftward extension, G on the end of said carriage. The carriage isadapted to oscillate on said post in a horizontal plane-and that is theonly movement allowed said carriage.

The feeler carriage has a flat cover, C whichis pivoted on the uprightheaded post,

C, which is seated in therightward extension, G at the outer or forwardend of the carriage. Normally the pivot post, A extends upward throughthe carriage body and the cover, C and prevents turning of the cover onthe post, C Normally the cover, A of the body, A, extends across thecarriage, C, and holds it against rising. Thus the carriage and itscover, C are held in position on the pivot post, A". When the cover, Ahas been removed and the carriage, C, has been lifted out of engagementwith the pivot post, A the carriage cover, C may be turned sidewise withthe post, C acting as a journal.

The upper part of the carriage below the cover, C is channeledlengthwise to receive the main part of the flat or blade-form feeler, D,the fit of the feeler in the channel being sufliciently loose to alloweasy endwise sliding of the feeler in the channel. Between the feeler,D, and the bearing, C of the carriage there is formed in the carriage acircular oil recess, C, in

which is placed a filling of felt or similar,

absorbent material. Said recess is made large enough to communicate withthe bearing, C and the channel of the carriage, in order thatlubricating oil put into the recess may pass from said recess into saidbearing and into said channel. An oil portfC extends downward from therecess, C, through the extension, C to permit oil to pass downward fromthe recess, C to the bottom of the body, A. Above the 'recess, C, an oilport, At", is formed in the cover, A and an oil port, C, is formed inthe carriage cover, C The nozzle of an oil can may pass oil through theports. A and G, into the rticess, C The bearing, C also extends throughthe carriage cover, C. The

dam, A prevents the outward flow of oil lying on the bottom of the body,A. Thus provision is made for lubricating all the moving members of thispart of themechanism. This includes the lubrication of the ends of thespring, D to be described.

The feeler D has an arm or extension D which, as shown, projectslaterally from the feeler and inclines rearwardly. The end portion ofthe laterally extending arm may he-provided with a shoulder D adapted toengage the abutment or second fulcrum A formed as part or secured to thebody or feeler stand A. The laterally extending arm D is normally underthe influence of a spring tending to move the feeler into its rearwardfeeling position, and, while the details in these respects may bevariously contrived, the arm D is here shown as provided with a post Dwhich receives one end of the contractile spring D, the other end ofwhich is secured to a post A at the rear portion of the body or feelerstand, the construction being such that the spring tends to move thefeeler rearwardly, thereby causing the end or shoulder D of the arm D toengage the stop or abutment A and effect swinging movement of thecarriage C to the left, as shown, and into engagement with a limitingstop or abutment A".

lVhen not engaged by the bobbin or the filling on the bobbin, the actionof the spring, D, holds the feeler carriage in its leftward positionagainst the abutment, A, and holds the feeler in its farthest rearwardposition in the carriage, the shoulder, D of the feeler at such timesresting against the abutment, A which serves as a fulcrum or pivot.

TVhen the feeler engages a working supply of filling in the shuttle on adetecting beat, the feeler is moved frontwardly by the frontwardpressure upon it, while the rear toothed end of the feeler sinks intothe filling to prevent side slipping movement thereof. As the feelermoves frontwardly, the spring D connected to the laterally extending armD of the feeler is placed under greater tension and as the lay goes backthe feeler will be moved rearwardly in the feeler carriage until itagain assumes the position indicated in Fig. 2 with the end or shoulderD of the laterally extending arm D engaged with the abutment A,whereupon the feele'r and its carriage-are moved to bring the latterinto engagement with the stop A As already stated, the spring, D tendsto move the feeler, D, leftward when the feeler is in its rearwardposition and the shoulder, D rests against the abutment, A. Under thatcondition, the point of cont-act between that shoulder and that abutmentis the pivotal point for the turning of the feeler. But when the feeleris pushed frontwardly whereby the shoulder is moved out of contact withthat abutment, the pivot post, A", becomes the axis or fulcrum on whichthe spring tends to turn the feeler. Then the force of the spring isexerted to throw the rearward part of the feeler right wardin thedirection to throw the transfer mechanism into action. Furthermore, asindicated by the line, aa, on Fig. 2 of the drawings, the rearward orfree end of the feeler is at the right of the axis formed by the pivotpost, A", so that pressure frontward against the rear end of the feelerwill tend absence seen that this action of the'bob in tendingto move thefeeler rightward and the action of the spring, D to move the feelerrightward are combined. And it is to be noted that the spring acts onthe line, 6-6, and

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that line passes between the two tulcra, the pivot post, A, and theabutment, A.

As soon as the nearly empty bobbin retreats, its pressure on the teelerceases, and the spring at once draws the teelerrearward through thecarriage until the shoulder, D again makes contact with the abutment, A,whereupon that point again becomes the fulcrum for turning the feelerand the teeler carriage toward the left until. the can riage bearsagainst the abutment, it", the carriage and the teeler then belng in ther rest positions.

The rightward movement of the rear end of the feeler carriage moves theconnecting rod, E, endwise toward the right. The left hand end of saidrod is bent downward and extended into an eye, (1 formed on the rearpartot the right hand edge of the feeler carriage, U, adjacent the hmgepost, G on which the feeler carriage cover, C may turn, as alreadydescribed. The cover, A of the teeler body, A, has an extension, A,which reaches over the, adjacent part of the connecting rod and preventssaid rod from rising and disengaging itself from the teeler carriage.

,lF is an approximately horizontal actuator of well known form andsuitably supported for endwise movement and operatively connected withthe bobbin transfer mechanism (not shown). On the rearward end of theactuator is a head, F which has a channel, F parallel to the length ofthe actuator and opening downward. On the left hand side of said head isa sleeve or bearing, F opening into said channel. Said bearing ishorizontal and pe endicular to the length of the actuator. n, the faceof the actuator head on the side of the channel opposite the bearing, F,and in axial alignment with said bearing isa socket, F, of the samediameter as the interior diameter of said hearing. The interior of saidbearing and said socket are preferably cylindrical. A cylindrical,rotatableslide bolt, lE, lies in said bearing and is adapted to be movedrightward across the channel, F, and into the socket, F lln alignmentwith said slide bolt is a connectingblock, E on the right hand end ofwhich is a ball, 1E resting in a socket, 1E formed on the adjacent endof the carriage.

slide bolt. Thus a universal joint is formed between the slide bolt andthe connecting block. The left hand end of the connecting block ishollow and interiorly screw-threaded to receive the adjacent exteriorlyscrewthreaded end of the connecting rod, 1*].- At the left of theconnecting block, E a. am nut, E is threaded around the connecting rod,1E. When the jam nut has been loose ened,' th e connecting rod and thecoupling block may be relatively turned to shift said block endwise onthe connecting rod for varying the distance between the right hand endoi the slide bolt and the ieeler For its endwise movement, the actuatoris. dependent upon action by the cam follower, G, which is positionedand actuated periodically (by any well-known means not shown) to movefrontward into the channel,

it, of the actuator. But the cam follower makes no on agement with theactuator unless the slided oolt, E is in its rightward position andextending across the. channel, F and forms an abutment against which thehook of the cam follower bears. The part, E of the slide bolt whichextends across the channel, F is tapered, leftward across said channel.The face of the cam follower hook which engages said part,E, of theslide bolt is correspondingly slanted. Thus tendency toward leftwardmovement of the slide bolt when the bolt is engaged by the" hook isavoided. On the contrary, this ongagement is such as to tend to hold theslide bolt in its right hand or. working position.

Extending the slide bolt into the socket, h, gives said bolt greaterstability when it is engagedby the cam follower hook.

When the block, E is to be adjusted on the connecting rod, the balland-socket joint between the coupling block, E and the slide bolt, Eallows the turning of the block, E on the connecting rod, E, withoutdetaching said rod or removin the sli e block, E Furthermore said balland socket joint and the uprightcoupling at the left hand end oi. theconnecting rod form two joints permitting free movement during theendwis-e movements of the actuator, F. These joints and themanner ofsupporting the slide bolt pro-- vide for easy endwise movement of theconnecting rod, the coupling block, and the slide bolt. Such easymovement is desirable during the rightward movement and also during theleftward movement of the feeler carriage, G. During those movements, the*feeler carriage causes the endwise movement of the connecting rod, thecoupling block, and the slide-bolt, These members should offer the leastresistance to such movements, in order to limit the work to be done bythe spring, D*. To give the mechanism long continued accurate action,the spring must be given a load which is as light as is feasible.

It has already been explained how the parts directly associated with thebody, A, are arranged and lubricated for easy movement. The slide boltis formed for easy movement in the bearing, F and said bearing has anupper oil port, F for the introduction of oil to facilitate sliding ofthe slide bolt.

It will now be observed that all the parts of this mechanism are adaptedto economical manufacture and to easy assembling and adjustment andseparation. When the cover, A, has been removed from the body,

A, the spring, B, may be detached from the posts, D and A and a newspring substituted, if such substitution is necessary. To limit wear,those posts are made of copper or similar soft metal. After the spring,D has been detached, the feeler carriage may be lifted out of engagementwith the post. Then the carriage cover, C may be turned on the hingepost, (1*, into the position shown by Fig. 5. Then the feeler, D, may belifted out of the carriage and repaired or replaced by another feeler.Here it is to be remembered that when the carriage is in its workingposition, the pivot post, A, extends into the carriage cover andprevents it from turning on the hinge post, C After the cover, A hasbeen removed, the adjacent end of the connecting rod may be lifted outof engagement with the carriage.

Attention is especially invited to the fact that the body, A, and thecover, A enclose the main part of the feeler and the feeler carriage andthe spring. Thus these parts and the lubricant within the body are keptfree from dirt and lint. This keeps these parts in condition for easyand quick movement, 2. condition necessary for prolonged and accurateand reliable service.

Furthermore, this construction has an important bearing upon safety foroperatives. In forms of feeler mechanisms now in use on looms, theworking parts are so exposed as to often cause the pinching of the handsor fingers of the operatives, the mechanisms being so located as topermit accidental bringing of the hand or fingers into engagement whilethe attention of the operative is directed elsewhere. Hands ofoperatives i11- jured in this way frequently require treatment. In ourimproved mechanism, the body, A, and the cover, A render the mechanismsafe in this respect. The hand of the operative may rest on this part ofthe mechanism without injury.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a stationary bodyproviding a first and a second fulcrum or turning -sion between the twofulcra,

point, a carriage placed horizontally on said body and perpendicularlyto the bobbin axis and pivoted on the first fulcrum, the two fulcrabeing at the same side of the longitudinal axis of the carriage, afeeler sup ported by the carriage for endwise sliding on the carriageand having a lateral extension normally reachingto the second fulcrum,and a spring engaging said extensubstantially as described.

2. In afeeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carriagemounted for swinging movement about a first fulcrum at one side of itscentral longitudinal axis, a feeler mounted on the carriage forlengthwise movement relative thereto and swinging movement therewith andhaving a lateral extension, a fulcrum stop adapted for engagement bysaid extension, and a spring acting upon the extension between the twofulcra and normally tending to move the feeler rearwardly and to swingthe feel er and carriage about the first fulcrum when the filling issubstantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a stationary bodyproviding a first and a second fulcrum or turning point and an abutmentfor limiting the sidewise movement of the feeler in the direction ofrest, a carriage placed horizontally on said body and perpendicularly tothe bobbin axis and pivoted on the first fulcrum, the two fulcra beingat the same side of the longitudinal axis of the carriage, a feelersupported by the carriage for endwise sliding on the carriage and havinga lateral extension normally reaching to the second fulcrum, and aspring engaging said extension between the two fulcra, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carriagemounted for swinging movement about a first fulcrum at one side of itscentral longitudinal axis, a feeler mounted on the carriage forlengthwise movement relative thereto and swinging movement therewith andhaving a lateral extension, a fulcrum stop adapted for engagement bysaid extension, and a spring acting upon the extension between the twofulcra and normally tending to move the feeler rearwardly and to swingthe feelor and carriage about the first fulcrum when the filling issubstantially exhausted on a detecting beat and an abutment for limitingthe sidewise movement of the feeler in the direction of rest.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carriagemounted for swinging movement about a fulcrum at one side of its centrallongitudinal axis, a feeler mounted for lengthwise movement on thecarriage and having a lateral extension frontward of the feelercarriage, a fulcrum stop adapted to be engaged by said lateralextension, and a spring acting upon the extension between the two fulcraand normally tending to move the feeler rearwardly on the carriage.

6. In a feeler mechanism vfor looms, the combination of a feelercarriage pivotally supported at one side of its central longitudinalaxis, a feeler mounted on the car riage for-lengthwise movement andhaving a lateral extension, a spring acting on the lateral extension andnormally tending to move the feeler rearwardly, on the feeler carriage,a fulcrum stop at the same side of t the central longitudinal axis ofthe carriage as the pivotal support and adapted to be engaged by thelateral extension of the feeler under the impulse of said spring to movethe feeler and feeler carriage into a position substantially at rightangles to to the second fulcrum, and a spring engaging said extensionbetween the two fulcra,

substantially as described.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a stationary bodyor feeler stand, a feeler carriage mounted for swinging movement about afulcrum at one side of its central longitudinal axis, a feeler mountedfor lengthwise movement on the feeler carriage and having a lateralextension projecting to one side of its longitudinal axis, a fulcrumstop adapted to be engaged by said lateral projection and a pull springacting to move the feeler rearwardly on the feeler carriage.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a body or feelerstand, a fceler carriage mounted for swinging movement about a fulcrumat one side of its central longitudinal axis, a fecler mounted on thecarriage for lengthwise movement relative thereto and having a laterallyextending arm, a fulcrum stop adapted for engagement by said laterallyextending arm, and a spring normally tending to move the feelerrearwardly to effect engagement of said arm with the fulcrum stop and toswing the feeler carriage about its fulcrum, and a stop'for limiting theswinging movement of the carriage under the impulse of said 5 ring.

10. n a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination with a body having a pivot post, of a'feeler carriagechanneled lengthwise and having a lateral extension in which is abearing receiving said pivot post and said extension having a lubricantrecess communicating with said bearing and with said channel and havingin its lower part a port communicating with said body, and a felerresting slidably in the carriage channel, substantially as described.

11.- In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination with a body havinga circumferential upright wall, a portion of which wall is cut awayleaving a low part at the bottom to form a dam and said body having apivot post, of a feeler carriage channeled lengthwise and having alateral extension in which is a bearing receiving said pivot post andsaid carriage extending outward across the low part of said wall, afeeler resting slidably in said channel, and a s ring assoclated withsaid feeler, substantially as described.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination with a body havinga circumferential upright wall, a portion of which wall is cut awayleaving a low part at the bottom to form a dam and said body having apivot post, of a feeler carriage channeled lengthwise and having avlateral extension in which is a bearing receiving said pivot post andsaid carriage extending outward across the low part of said wall and thecarriage having a lubricant recess in the lower part of which is a port,a feeler resting slidably in said channel, and a spring associated withsaid feeler, substantially as described.

13. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a relatively stationary body, 1

a carriage pivoted to said body at one side of the longitudinal axis ofsaid carriage and having near its free end a lateral extension in whichis a bearing, a feeler slidably supported on said carriage, a springengaging said feeler, an actuator on which is a bearing, a rotatableslide bolt in said bearing, and a connecting rod having a downwardextension resting in said bearing and said rod being in operativerelation with said slide bolt, substantially as described.

14:. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a relativelystationary body, a carriage pivoted to said body, a feeler slidablysupported on said carriage, a spring engaging said feeler, an actuatorchanneled and having a bearing on one side of the channel, a slide boltresting in said bearing and adapted to extend across said channel, thepart of said bolt which is to extend across the channel being tapered,connecting means extending from the carriage to the slide bolt, and afollower member having its contact face made slanting, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a carriagehaving a pivotal mounting offset from its longitudinal axis,-;

a feeler slidable endwise on said carriage, and a spring in operativerelation with the feeler to tend to move the feeler and the carriage tothe rest position when the feeler is free fromthe bobbin and to move thefeeler and the carriage in the reverse direction when the feeler ispressed endwise by the bobbin or the filling on the bobbin,substantially as described.

16. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a stationarybody providing a first fulcrum and a second fulcrum, a carriage engagedon the first fulcrum laterally at one side of its longitudinal axis, afeeler endwise slidable on the carriage, a spring in operative relationwith the feeler to normally directly act on the second fulcrum andindirectly on the first fulcrum to turn the carriage and the feeler tothe rest position when the feeler is free from the bobbin and to actdirectly through the second fulcrum to turn the carriage and the feelerin the opposite direction When the feeler is pressed endwise by thebobbin, substantially as described.

17. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a stationarybody, a channeled carriage, a unitary blade-form feelersupported on thecarriage for endwise sliding and having its rear end folded to form a"lateral extension, and a spring engaging saidlateral extension,substantially as clescribed.

18. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a stationarybody or stand, a feeler carriage pivotally mounted on the stand, afeeler mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the carriage andhaving a lateral extension, a fulcrum stop adapted to be engaged by saidextension, and aspring having one end secured to the stand rearward ofthe lateral extension and its outer end secured to the lateral extensionbetween the feeler and the terminal portion of the lateral extension.

19. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination with a stationarybody on which is a pivot post, of a carriage comprising a channeled bodyand a cover hinged to said body and said carriage body and said coverbeing apertured to receive the pivot post whereby the carriage body ispivoted and that part of the cover is secured on the carriage body, anda feeler lying in the channel of the carriage body, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names, in the year one thousandnine hundred and twenty-five.

LARKIN H. BROWN. GEORGE E. REPASS.

